ADA Audit for a Historical Property

An Accessible Historical Property is Essential to Increase Tourism Sales

Houmas House Plantation, Louisiana, photo by Susan P. Berry

With the +50 Senior population spending 80% of all tourism dollars, having an accessible historical property is essential to engage more tourists and increase sales. In conversations with people who are passionate about preservation, their first concern is ruining the architectural integrity. No one wants that! Please contact us to show you seamless solutions to enhance your accessible historical property.

What do 50+ seniors or a people living with a disability expect when they visit a historical property?

They want to enjoy visiting historical properties.

A parking spot close to the venue with plenty of room to get in and out of the vehicle.

A clean accessible restroom.

Pathways that are easy to navigate with a cane, walker or wheelchair.

Water fountain for drinking.

Ramp access to the main floor levels.

Clear signage or instructions showing places for accessible access.

An elevator to access other floors when they are open to the public.

A video program of spaces that are not accessible.

Most tourists who live with a disability do not expect to climb a scuttle ladder to a rooftop widows walk.

They understand that historical properties are often operating on a tight budget and are willing to overlook no access to upper floors if the customer service experience is pleasant and photos or videos are on view.

Studying Historical Architecture in New Orleans with the Prince’s Foundation for Traditional Building.

She learned first hand how historical properties create seamless solutions for accessibility in New Orleans, touring many antebellum plantations, training at the New Orleans Preservation Resource Center, and training at the National Center for Preservation Technology in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Susan Berry, graduate architectural designer, has specialized training through the Institute of Classical Architecture. She understands how to make historical properties accessible without negatively impacting the architecture.

Rosemont Plantation restrooms at a historic property. No ramp, but the toilet stalls had handrails. Go figure? Photo by Susan P. Berry

Most historic parks, houses, and properties provide an accessible restroom and drinking fountain in an out building, that is designed in a style compatible to the time period represented. When there are steps to a front porch, many provide an accessible ramp to a side or rear porch entrance. Residential scale elevators that usually require only 6 feet x 6 feet square are added to access upper floors when they can fit. Braille signage is designed in a historical style. There are many seamless accessibility solutions for individual historic properties.

Historical Buildings and The ADA

At Disability Smart Solutions, we believe that a business’s first concern should be the comfort of their patrons. Many historic property owners are confused regarding historic buildings and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Galviston, Texas iron storefronts. Most stores have ramp entries, Due to a history of flooding, all storefront entries are raised. As a tourism port for cruise ships, accessible entries to stores and restaurants are essential to increase sales.

A historical building IS NOT considered a historic landmark unless it is registered at the federal, state or local level as a historic landmark.

Accessibility exemptions for historic landmarks under the ADA, are not as significant as often assumed.

Alterations to historical landmark buildings must comply with the same standards as other existing buildings unless it is determined in accordance with defined procedures that compliance with accessibility requirements for accessible routes, ramps, entrances or toilets would threaten to destroy the historic quality of the building.

In this case, then some deviations from the strict standards specified in the law may be used by exception, when it is formally and properly determined that meeting the standard requirements for alterations to buildings cannot be done, in order to preserve the historic nature.

At Disability Smart Solutions, we look for creative ways to meet the code.

We recognize that historic committees sometimes get “stuck” on changing a building for accessible accommodations.

We recognize that historical properties often rely on donations and tight budgets.

We know that an accessible historical property is welcoming to more consumers, thereby increasing visits, customers, and sales.

Provide solutions that are architecturally appropriate for the facility. (Example: if it is a Victorian style building, we recommend Victorian style ADA compliant signage.)

Provide simple cost effective solutions whenever possible.

The ADA Consultant has over 30 years of experience in the preservation and hospitality building design, interior design and construction industries, so she can look at your facility and suggest the most cost-effective solutions that blend with the buildings architecture.

Disability Smart Solutions does not practice architecture. These are ONLY suggestions. All structural changes must be reviewed and permitted by a licensed Florida architect or Engineer.

Example: We will provide a sketch of a ramp, suggest the location and provide the code requirements, but we do not provide a detailed construction drawing for permitting.

The report is provided in a digital format for the client to distribute as needed.

Review policies, amenities, customer service and marketing techniques for Service Dogs.

Discuss questions and etiquette for serving guests who live with disabilities.

Follow-up meeting on site with the property owner, property manager, landmark board, architect and/or team to review the report and walk the property.

Up to 10 E-mails and phone calls coordinating or explaining any possible changes with the client’s architect, engineer, handyman or builder.

Items Not Included

Architectural drawings for permit construction are not included.

DSS can recommend a qualified local architect for any required construction documents.

DSS can review the architectural drawings for design intent and ADA compliance.

Simple modifications are often made by a handyman based on included diagrams and resources.

We do not provide construction techniques or instruction.

Structural modifications must be made by the Clients choice of State Licensed Building Contract. (Costs not included.)

Disability Smart Solutions is committed to working with organizations and companies who believe in diversity and social inclusion. We are an ADA Accessibility consulting company providing resources to businesses that serve the unique needs of both the 50+ aging population and people living with disabilities.

While parenting a special needs teenager and caring for an elderly parent, she learned the harsh realities of all-ability customer service and architectural barriers to access.

Susan knows that it's one thing to explore a building as an able young person, but it's another to shop, dine, visit the doctor, or vacation as a person living with a disability. Mobility, comprehension, perception, hearing and sight can change in a split second.

Susan believes that exemplary customer service and ease-of-use in Places of Accommodation are key to creating long-term productive employees and life-long happy customers.

His photos star in our "Spot the Service Dog" presentation, where we explain the differences between Services Dogs and Emotional Support Animals.

Serge wants everyone to know that for Places of Public Accommodation:
1. A service dog vest is like a Rock Star t-shirt. It is just informational clothing.
2. The Department of Justice and the ADA do not acknowledge any "Service Dog Certificates."

The ADA only allows two legal questions for businesses.
1. Is the dog or tiny horse a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog or tiny horse been trained to perform?

A business may ask any animal, including a Service Dog, to leave their facility for bad behavior.

Call Susan to schedule a Service Dog seminar for your organization. 407-310-3663

What is the ADA?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities that are like those provided to individuals on the basis of race, sex, national origin, and religion.

The ADA guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, State and local government services and telecommunications.

Susan P. Berry, NCIDQ, National Council for Interior Design Qualification

National Council of Building Design Certification, Susan P. Berry, CPBD

Disability Smart Solutions is an ADA Consultancy and a service of Susan Berry Design, Inc.
DSS does not practice Law, Architecture, Commercial Interior Design or Engineering.
DSS recommends always using a State Licensed professional for Construction Documents.
DSS recommends always reviewing Disability Discrimination with an Attorney.
Fees and Prices quoted on website are samples and subject to change at any time.
The comments and observations provided within documents provided by Susan Berry Design, Inc. and/or Disability Smart Solutions (SBD/DSS), are for general information & compliance purposes only. SBD/DSS are not licensed attorneys or architects in the State of Florida. We do not claim to be agents, representatives, or licensees of the DOJ (Department of Justice), ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or any other state or government agency. Any information provided is not intended as professional legal advice, nor does it supersede government authority. Susan Berry Design, Inc., Disability Smart Solutions and/or their assignee's, do not assume any liability for information.

Disclaimer:
ADA Consulting and ADA Inspectors are non-regulated professions.
The International Code Council provides a Certified Accessibility Inspector and Plans Examiner program. Disability Smart Solutions has this certification.
The Department of Justice does not certify or endorse any individual or organization as ADA consultants, nor does the DOJ approve or endorse any products or designs as being in compliance with the ADA.
We DO NOT provide Certificates of ADA Compliance, as we have never been in a facility that maintained 100% ADA compliance.